U.S. air carriers scrapped over 2,700 flights on Sunday, with U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cautioning that air traffic nationwide could dwindle significantly if the federal government shutdown extends into the hectic Thanksgiving travel period. The slowdown at 40 of the busiest U.S. airports has entered its third day, causing broader disruptions. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently mandated flight reductions at major airports due to some unpaid air traffic controllers failing to report for duty.
Sunday witnessed more than 10,000 flight delays, marking the highest disruptions in a single day since the government shutdown commenced, as reported by FlightAware, a platform monitoring air travel issues. The FAA initiated reductions on Friday at four percent, set to rise to 10 percent by November 14, affecting all commercial airlines from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time.
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta led in cancellations on Sunday, exceeding 570, followed by Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey with at least 265 cancellations. Weather conditions in Georgia, including widespread freezing alerts by the National Weather Service in Atlanta through Tuesday, might have contributed to the disruptions.
Traveller Kyra March, who faced multiple flight delays and cancellations, finally reached Hartsfield-Jackson on Sunday after rebooking her journey. At Newark and LaGuardia Airport in New York, staffing shortages resulted in average departure delays of around 75 minutes, while Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Michigan experienced minimal wait times at security checkpoints amid cancellations and delays.
Secretary Duffy alerted that air traffic could further decline if the shutdown continues, hinting at potential flight cuts of up to 20 percent, especially if controllers miss another pay period. He emphasized the potential impact during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, projecting severe disruptions with very few controllers working.
The shortage of air traffic controllers has been a long-standing issue, worsened by the shutdown prompting accelerated retirements among controllers. The offer of military air traffic controllers by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth raised questions about their certification for civilian systems. Duffy refuted claims that flight cancellations were politically motivated, emphasizing safety concerns amid an overstressed system.
Airlines for America disclosed that staffing-related delays exceeded 3,000 hours on Saturday, with staffing issues contributing to 71 percent of delay time. Controller shortages have disrupted over four million U.S. carrier passengers from October 1 to November 7, as per Airlines for America’s data.